Receptacle filling machine



Nov. 4, 1952 P. c. BEEHLER, JR 6, 0

RECEIPTACLEI FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY M 1952 P. c. BEEHLER, JR 2,616,606

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @442 I INVENTORQ W W flfiorweys.

Nov. 4, 1952 P. c. BEEHLER, JR 2,616,606

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet s Nov. 4, 1952 P. c. BEEHLER, JR

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 14, 1950 .ic' i orireyg Patented Nov. 4, 1952 RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Paul C. Bcehler, Jr., Lewiston, N. Y., assignor to Chisholm-Ryder Company, Incorporated, Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 14, 1950, Serial No. 138,583

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a receptacle filling machine, and more particularly to such a machine which will operate at a high rate of speed and at the same time uniformly fill receptacles with accurate amounts of solid or liquid materials, or both.

The present invention is more particularly directed to an improvement on the type of filling machine described in the Ayars Patent 2,279,651 dated April 14, 1942, for Receptacle Filling Machine, and in common with this Ayars machine functions to provide increased capacity by first depositing in each can or receptacle a substantial amount of liquid, then dropping the discrete or solid materials into the can, and finally filling the can or receptacle with the additional liquid required to provide the desired total liquid content of the can.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide, for both the initial and the final liquid filling, an increased time interval for the fiow of liquid into the receptacle thereby to permit of a higher capacity of the machine, the capacity of the machine being determined by the rate of liquid fill, particularly by the time required for the liquid to find its way and settle into the voids between the discrete solid materials.

Another object is to provide such increased liquid filling time intervals without costly alteration of the said Ayars machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a can filling machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally on line 2--2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6--6, Fig. 4.

The principal operating parts of the can filling machine are carried by a table-like supporting casting l having a central upwardly projecting hub H having an integral, depending bearing sleeve l2 in which a tubular or hollow vertical shaft 13 is journalled by means of bearing bushings [4. The table-like supporting casting II! has a depending marginal skirt I supported on the upper rim l6 of a supporting bed l8, the generally rectangular side walls l9 of which are supported on the floor and one of which side walls can be provided with an access opening 20.

One of these side walls I9 of the supporting bed l8 carries a bearing bracket 2| having a pair of bearing bushings 22 for a horizontal drive shaft 23 which projects outwardly from the bed l8 and at its inner end has fast thereto a bevel pinion 24 meshing with a bevel gear 25 fast to the lower end of the hollow or tubular shaft l3.

The hollow or tubular shaft [3 extends up through the bearing bushings l4 and has a star wheel 26 keyed thereto while the extreme upper end of this tubular or hollow shaft I3 has keyed thereto a funnel casting indicated generally at 28. A solid shaft 29 extends vertically through the hollow shaft 13 and into the sunken central chamber or downwardly recessed portion 3| (see Fig. 2) of the funnel casting 28 and this solid shaft 29 on its upper end has keyed thereto a pinion 32 which meshes with a gear 33 fast to a shaft 34. This shaft 34 is journalled in a depending bearing sleeve 36 formed integrally with a stationary plate 31. This shaft 34 also passes upwardly through a collar 38 integral with and rising from a lower turret member 39. The shaft 34 is fastened to the collar 38 by means of a set screw 40. The lower turret member 39 is provided with an annular series of upstanding sleeves or ring flanges 4| which are arranged in a circle about the axis of the shaft 34. An upper turret member 42 is provided with an annular series of depending sleeves or ring flanges 43 which are complementary to and fit into the upstanding ring flanges 4| of the lower turret member 39 so as to form adjustable telescopic measuring cups.

The upper turret member 42 is provided, in axial alinement with the stub shaft 34, with an integral upstanding pin or lug 44 on which is keyed a pinion 46, this pinion meshing with a ring gear 41 on the inside of the bottom or base 48 of a hopper 49. This bottom or base 48 of the hopper is also extended over the top of the entire upper turret member 42 so as to form a cover therefor.

The bottom of the lower turret member 39 fits on a wear plate 50 within a recess 5| on the upper face of the stationary plate 31, and its center of rotation is the axis of the stub shaft 34, while the center of rotation of the funnel casting 28 is the axis of the vertical solid and hollow shafts 29 and I3.

At one side of the hopper 49, and located near the periphery of the stationary plate 31 is an upright cylindrical stud 52 fixed to this stationary plate and which is provided with a threaded bore 53. This stud 52 is embraced by a vertically movable adjusting sleeve 54 having a laterally extending arm 55 supporting the rim of the upper turret member 42. An adjusting screw 56 having a hand wheel 58 is screwed into the threaded 3 bore 53, this adjusting screw having an enlargement 59 engaging an annular shoulder 60 at the upper end of the adjusting sleeve 54. It will be seen that upon turning the hand wheel 58 to screw it upwardly in the threaded bore 53, its enlargement 59 will raise the adjusting sleeve 54 and its laterally extending arm 55. This will in turn raise the upper turret member 42 so as to move its telescopic sleeves 43 upwardly and there- .by increase the size of the measuring cups provided'by these sleeves with thecompanion telescopic sleeve ill of the lower turret member 39.

The funnel casting 28 i provided with an an- :nular series of depending material directing pockets or funnels indicated generally at 6 I, these funnels being arranged concentric with the axis of the concentric hollow and solid shafts I3 and 29 and terminating in a re duced lower neck 62 through which the solid and liquid materials supplied to the upper endsof these funnels are discharged. Each of these funnels is provided with an inclined internal partition 63 which is concentric with the axis ofthe concentric hollow and solid shafts I3 and 29 and divides the funnel into arrinner generally semicircular pocket or chute 64 for the solid materials and an outer arcu'atepocket or chute for liquid. Each partiticn 63 terminates short of the bottom of its funnel 6| and both the solidmaterials introduced through the inner semicircular pockets or chutes 64' and the liquid introducedthrcugh the outer arcuate pockets or chutes GS flow out through the reduced lower necks 62 of the funnels. It will particularly be noted that the outer arcuate pockets or chutes 65 present arcuate inlet openings' 06 which are concentric with the axis of the concentric hollow and solid shafts I3 and 29. A part ofthe length of each of these arcuate openings 66 can be out 01f by a horizontal web 08 across the corresponding ends of these inlet openings.

The stationary plate 31 1s provided with an elongated arcuate discharge opening I0 located as shown in Fig. 3' and shown in Fig. 1 as arranged over one of. the solid materials pockets or chutes 64. To effect the transfer of the solid materials from th'e'hop'per' 49 through this discharge opening 10: to the solid materials pockets or chutes E4, the vertical solid shaft has a bevel gear II fast to its lower end and this gear meshes,

as best shown in Fig. 4, with a pair of bevel pinions I2 ea'ch fast to the lower end of an inclin'ed shaft I3 si'iit'ably journalle'd in stationary bearing bushings 14, 15 and I6 and I8.

The bearing bushing 14 is in a bearing bracket I9 supported by an from a bearing housing 8| which is in turn supported by an arm 82 from the rim I6 of the bed I 8. This bearing housing 8| carries bearing bushings 83 and 84 for the hollow shaft I3 and the solid shaft 29, respectivly. The hollow shaft I3 is supported by a thrust bearing 85 interposed between the star wheel 26 and the stationary table-like supporting casting I0, and the solid shaft 29 is shown as supported by a thrust bearing 05 interposed between the pinion 32 and the top of the hollow shaft I3. The bearingbusmng 15 for each inclined shaft I3 is carried by a housing 88 suitably supported in the apron I5 of the table-like supporting casting I0. Each pair of bearing bushings I6 and I8 is arranged in the axially alined sleeves 89 and 90 which are formed integrally withand project upwardly and downwardly, respectively,,from thecircular inclined bottom 9| of a liquid container indicated generally at 92.

Each of the liquid receptacles 92 is supported by a bracket 93 integral with its bottom plate 9| and suitably secured to thenim of the stationary plate 31. 7

Fast to each of the inclined shafts I3 is a star wheel 94 the arms 95 of which are engaged by rollers 96 mounted on depending pins 98 on the arms of the star wheel 26. This last star wheel 26 is fixed to the hollow vertical shaft I3 and since this shaft is continuously driven it will be seen that the rotation of the star Wheel 28 on the hollow vertical shaft I3, through the rollers 96, imparts a step-by-step rotation to each of the star wheels 9 and inclined shafts I3, this being transmitted through the gears 12 and 'II to the solid vertical shaft 2 9.

This intermittent rotation of the solid vertical shaft 29 i imparted to the upper and lower turret members 42 and 39 so as to bring the telescopic measuring cups t3 and 4| thereof progressively under the hopper 4'9 and over the arcuate opening I9 of the stationary plate 31. Accordingly, these telescopic measuring cups 43, 4| withdraw measured quantities of solid materials from the hopper 49' and discharge the same through the arcuate opening I0 of the stationary plate 3 1 into the solid materials pockets or chutes 04 of the funnel casting 28 which is also fast to and rotating with the vertical hollow shaft I3. At the same time the pinion 48 fast to the upper face of the upper turret member 42 meshing with the ring gear 41 on the base 48 of the hopper 49, causes rotation of this hopper 49 to facilitate filling of the telescopic measuring cups 43, 4|. 7

Each of the liquid receptacles 92 has a side wall I00 rising from the rim of the bottom plate 9| of the receptacle coaxial with the corresponding inclined shaft I3, the top rim of each of these side walls being preferably horizontally disposed. Withinea'ch liquid receptacle 92 is arranged a turret member indicated generally at IOI and comprising a central sleeve I02 rotatably fitting the sleeve 90 of the receptacle 92, a plurality of arms I03 radiating from this central sleeve I02 and rim I04 fitting the bottom plate 9| of the receptacle and carrying an annular series of liquid measuring cups or sleeves I05 which are open at their tops and bottoms, as best shown in Fig. 4, and are arranged to travel into and out of register with a discharge opening I05 in the bottom plate 9| of the liquid receptacle. The liquid is discharged from each of the liquid measuring cups or sleeves I05 of the turret IOI into the open upper end of a neck I08 integral with and rising from the stationary plate 31. It will particularly be noted that the measuring cups I05 are of elongated arcuate form concentric with their axis of rotation and preferably of approximately the same arcuate length as the arcuate length of the arcuate liquid pockets o'r chutes I55 of the funnel casting 28. Also while each of the discharge openings I06 and the bore I09 through the corresponding necl I08 can be circular, it is important that each arcuate measuring cup I05 and a corresponding arcuate pocket or chute 65 of the funnel casting 28 be in registerwith the corresponding discharge opening I06 and bore I09 simultaneously for their full length so that liquid is discharged into the arcuate pockets or chutes 64 for the full length of travel of these arcuate pockets or chutes under each bore I09.

The bottom plate 9| of each of the liquid receptacles 92 inclines downwardly and outwardly from its discharge opening I06 and since the turret IN is parallel with this bottom plate, its

measuring cups I05 travel from a lowered position diametrically opposite to the discharge opening I06 to an elevated position directly over this discharge opening. The level of the liquid H in each receptacle 92 is such as to be at or below the rim of the uppermost measuring cups I and above the rims of the other measuring cups.

The series of measuring cups I05 of each of the liquid receptacles 92 are adjustable as to capacity as a group, such adjustment determining the amount of preliminary and final liquid fill. For this purpose an arcuate plug III is arranged in each measuring cup 92 and is suspended from the rim of a spider II2 associated with each liquid receptacle. A pair of sliding pins I I3-are fixed to the hub of each of these spiders II2, these pins projecting parallel with thecorresponding inclined shaft I3 and slidingly fitting the enlarged rim I'I4 of the central sleeve I02 of the turret I0l. The plugs III thereby rotate in unison with the measuring cups I05 of the turret IOI. An adjusting screw II5 has its enlarged threaded end screwed into a threaded end bore in the corresponding inclinedshaft 13, the reduced end IIB of this. screw extending through an axial bore in the spider H2 and having keyed thereto a handwheel II8. It will be seen that upon turning this handwheel IIB the screw I I5 will be turned to raise or lower the spider H2 and hence adjust the degree of projection of the plugs III into the measuring cups I05 thereby to adjust the capacities thereof.

The upper end of each inclined shaft I3 can be squared to fit a squared opening in an end head II4 of the central sleeve I02 of the turret IOI so that this shaft rotates the turret.

The machine can be provided with any suitable type of mechanism for feeding cans I and since this can feeding mechanism forms no part of the present invention it is not illustrated in detail. The line of empty cans is received from a canway I2I (Fig. 3) on a shelf-like casting I22 secured to the apron I5 of the table-like supporting casting II! at one side of the machine and having a slot I23 in alinement with the canway I2I, the upper stretch of a can feed chain I24 riding in this slot. This feed chain (Fig. 2) passes around a pair of sprockets, the drive sprocket-being shown at I25 as fast to a horizontal shaft I26 journalled in bearing blocks I28 secured to the underside of the shelf-like casting I22 and having a bevel pinion I29 at one end. This pinion I29 meshes with a bevel gear I30 on a vertical star wheel shaft I3I journalled in and projecting upwardly from the shelf-like cast- 7 ing I22. This vertical shaft I3I is driven from the continuously rotating vertical hollow shaft I3 through a gear I32 fast to this hollow vertical shaft and meshing with a pinion I33 fast to this vertical star wheel shaft I3 I.

The cans can be alined on the feed chain I24 by a horizontal tapered screw I35 on the shelflike casting I22 and rotated in any suitable manner (not shown) and the feed chain feeds the cans against a stationary circular guide rail I36 (Fig. 3) and to the teeth of a star wheel I38 fast to the upper end of the star wheel shaft I3I. The star wheel I38 and guide rail I33 deliver the individual cans to platforms I40 (Fig. 2) at the ends of the arms of the star wheel 26, these platforms being in line with the discharge nozzle 62,0f the funnels 6| of the funnel casting 28. The solid and liquid materials deposited in these funnels 6| is therefore deposited in the cans I20 arranged therebelow. It will be understood that 6 the usual means for elevating the platforms I40 during filling of the cans thereon and also that the usual no can-no fill mechanism would be provided, such forming no part of the present 1 invention, however, and hence not being shown.-

In the operation of the machine the hollow tubular shaft I3 (Fig. 2) is continuously rotated through its gear connection 25, 24 with the horizontal drive shaft 23. Accordingly, the parts fast to this hollow tubular shaft I3 are continuously rotated, this comprising the gear I32 which drives the can feeding mechanism; the star wheel 23 carrying the platforms I40 which receive cans from the can feeding mechanism; and the funnel casting 28 carrying the funnels GI which separately receive the liquid and solid materials and which deposit the same into cans I20 positioned therebelow on the supporting platforms I40 of the star wheel 26.

As the star wheel 20 rotates its rollers 96 successively engage (Fig. 4) the teeth of the star wheels 94, each of these star wheels being fast to a corresponding inclined shaft 13. Accordingly, a step-by-step movement is imparted to each of these inclined shafts l3 and this stepby-step movement is imparted to bevelled gears 12 at the lower ends of these shafts. elled gears mesh with and turn the bevel gear TI at the lower end of the solid vertical shaft 29.

The step-by-step rotation of the solid vertical shaft 29 (Fig. 1) rotates the gear 32 fast thereto, this in turn rotating the gear 33 fast to the This rotation of the stub shaft solid materials. These telescopic pockets M, 43

travel under the bottom plate or base 43 of the hopper 49 and into register with the arcuate discharge opening I0 of the stationary plate 31, the solid materials being discharged by the measuring cups 4|, 43 through this arcuate discharge opening I0 and being received in the inner pockets or chutes 64 of the funnels 0| carried by the funnel casting 28. These funnels GI deliver the solid materials through their outlet necks 32 into the cans I20 positioned therebelow on the platforms I40 of the star wheel 26.

During operation the hopper 49 is rotated, this rotation being effected by the pinion 46 fast to and concentric with the rotating upper turret member 42 meshing with the ring gear 4'! on the base 48 of the hopper.

The cans to be filled are received from a canway I2I (Fig. 3) on the shelf-like casting I22 and come into engagement with the upper stretch of a feed chain I24 projected through a slot I23 through this table-like casting. In moving-along with the chain I24 the cans are properly positioned by the rotating taper screw I35 and are delivered to the star wheel I38 and carried by this star wheel and the circular guide rail I30 on the platforms I40 of the star wheel 26 (Fig. 2), these platforms, as previously described, be-

ing located to register with the discharge nozr wheelshaft I3I carrying the star wheel I33; and

These bev- 2&6165606 7. h h th pi io s 3 a d 2 o he d ive sprocket I25 for the chain I24.

The present invention relates to improvements n the feed o id om t two liqu d receptacles 92' into outer arcuate pockets or chutes 65 ot the; funnels GI, The liquid is delivered in successive amounts from the two liquid receptaeles, 82, the feed of liquid from one of these receptacles being arranged in advance of the solid materials discharged through the discharge opening. and the feed of liquid from the other of these receptacles being arranged on the opposite side of this solid materials discharge opening 10.5.0. tha the cans I2 a fir fi d w a pr determined amount of; liquid, then filled with the. solid materials, and thereafter filled with the final amount. of liquid, such successive fillings having been found to provide increased time for the percolation of the liquid through the voids among the solid materials.

In each of the liquid receptacles 92 a body of liquid is maintained at the level indicated and as the turret IOI rotates with its angular shaft [3 its pockets I05 are filled with liquid on the lower side of the turret, the degree of fill being determined by the degree of penetration of the plugs III as adjusted by turning the hand wheel 8- and adjusting the screw II5. As each measuring pocket passes through its maximum elevation, it comes into register with the liquid discharge opening (Fig. 4) and its contents fiow through this openingand through the bore I09 of the sleeve I00 into the arcuate liquid pocket. or; chute 65 then in register therewith.

It will be particularly noted that the pockets I05 of the turret IOI are of elongated arcuate form and that the length of these pockets is substantially equal to the efiective arcuate length of, the liquid pockets or chutes I55 of the funnel casting 28. This effective length of the pockets 65 is determined by the horizontal webs 68 at the ends of these pockets. These turrets I 0I and the funnel casting. 2 8 are also synchronized so that each measuring pocket I 05 of each turret IOI comes into communication with the bore I09 of the discharge neck I08 at the same time, that a. orrespondingliquid pocket or chute 65 of the funnel casting 28 comes into communication with this bore I09 of the, sleeve I08. Since these measuring pockets of the turret and liquid chutes. of the funnel casting are of the same effective length it will be seen that each companion pair are in communicationv with each other for their full, length of travel past each other even though the opening connecting them is of round form.

Accordingly, by this arrangement a maxim m 28, of course, flow through the outlet spouts 62 thereof into the cans positioned therebelow.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by the arcuate form of the liquid measuring pocket 65 an increased time is provided for the emptying of each of these pockets into the arcuate chutes or pockets 65 of the funnel casting 28- and also into the cans thereby to provide a machine of increased capacity as compared with that shown in the Ayars patent above referred to.

l laim;

1-. In a receptacle filler having a funnel member arranged to rotate about a generally vertical axis and having an annular series of substantially equally spaced funnels arranged to discharge into a progression of cans arranged therebelow and each of said funnels forming a chute of horizontally elongated arcuate form concentric with said axis, saidchutes being of substantially equal arcuate length, the combination therewith, of means for feeding predetermined amounts of liquid through said chute into said cans, comprising a turret arranged to rotate about a,

generally vertical axis arranged outside of said funnel member, an annular series of substantially equally spaced horizontally elongated arcuate open bottom measuring pockets. of. substantiallyequal arcuate length carriedv by said turret, and-arranged concentric with said turret axi and arranged to travel, at one side of said turret above and in close proximity to the line of travel of said arcuate chutes, a stationary plate closing the bottoms of said measuring pockets, and means arranged to fill said measuring pockets with liquid, said station,- aryplate being provided with a discharge openiim arranged to establish communication between said measuring pockets and chutes as said funnel member and turret are rotated.

2. In a receptacle filler having a funnel member arranged to rotate abouta generally verticalaxis and having an annular series of substantially equally spaced funnelsarranged to discharge into a progression of cans arranged therebelow and each of said funnels having a partition generally concentric with said axis and formingan outer chute of horizontally-elongated arcuate form concentric with said axis and said chutes being of substantially equal arcuate length, the combination therewith of mean for feeding predetermined amounts of liquid through said chutes into said, cans, comprising a turret arranged to.

rotate about a generally vertical axis. arranged outside of said funnel member, an annular, series,

oi substantially equally spaced horizontally elongated arcuate openbottom measuring pockets; of substantially equal arcuatelength carried by said turret and arranged concentric with said turret axis and arranged to travel, atone side of the turret, above andv in close proximity to the line of travel ofrsaidarcuatechutes, astatiorrary plate closing the, bottoms, of said measuring pockets, means arranged to fill, said. measuring. pocket with liquid, said stationary plate being provided; with a. discharge opening simultaneously in, communication. with each. of, said arcuate REFERENCES. CITED:

The following references are of record" in the file of this patent;-

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,158,767 Ayars May 16, 1939 2,196,403.; Thompson Apr. 9, 1940 2,279,651 Ayars Apr. 14, 1942 

